Telegraph printer system



July 16, 1935. w. s. H. FINCH 2,008,389

TELEGRAPH PRINTER SYSTEM Original Filed April 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

N/l/lam GZHF/nc h ATTORNEY.

July 16, 1935. w. G. H. FINCH TELEGRAPH PRINTER SYSTEM Original Filed April 28, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

WIN/am GhiF'ma/r ATTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEGRAPH PRINTER. SYSTEM William G. H. Finch, New York, N. Y.

17 Claims.

My invention relates to novel apparatus for and methods of automatic printing telegraphy and more particularly relates to novel methods of and apparatus for selecting, synchronizing and operating portable and mobile automatic printing telegraph apparatus by radio.

Heretofore, due mainly to the complications of telegraph printers, they have been considered practical only for fixed station work.

A great need, however, has arisen for the operation of mobile telegraph printers; that is, printers which are mounted on movable carriers, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, police cars, aeroplanes, ships and the like.

Owners of these mobile printers are then supplied with a radio service for sending out recorded instructions. For example, the owner of a truck desiring to transmit instructions to the driver submits the message to the central station. The central broadcasting station operating on an assigned wave length then broadcasts the instructions which automatically are recorded on the printer mounted on a particular moving carrier.

The printer used must not only be rugged to withstand the unusual usage, but must be of simple construction having as few parts to get out of order as possible, operating on as simple a code as possible to avoid errors.

Accordingly, I have as the main object of my invention the provision of a printing telegraph system operating a mobile printer by radio.

The standard five-unit code in which impulse intervals of uniform duration are used to make the necessary selection of the high speed printer have not been as successful as desired. They require complicated synchronizing selecting mechanism and overlap devices. This has rendered these printers prohibitively costly and impractical for mobile use.

Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide a novel mobile, radio operated telegraph printer and novel methods for operating the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel code for automatic telegraph printers.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a two-unit code for directly operating a I telegraph printer and substantially without the use of intermediary selecting apparatus.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a telegraph printer, operated by a code comprising long and short impulses.

In the operation of printers, in a vehicle which is not only crowded for space but subjected to much jarring, special mountings and arrangement of the printer is necessary.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to use novel mountings and supports for mobile printers.

Another object of my invention is to render the printer characters quickly and readily visible.

In operating telegraph printers by a radio it is of considerable importance, especially in the 10 case of police signalling, that the code be kept secret so that unauthorized listeners-in" will not be able to make any intelligence out of the message being sent.

To this end, complicated coding apparatus has been developed which is so involved that it is costly and diificult to keep in practical operation.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of maintaining the telegraph code secret.

A further object is to provide a telegraph printer in which the characters can be readily interchanged to respond to different codes.

Still a further object is toprovide type wheel printers in which the characters are responsive to different codes.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide telegraph printers with removable and interchangeable type characters.

There are other objects of my invention which together with the foregoing will appear in connection with the detailed description to be given hereinafter.

In general, my invention disclosed in the present application which is a division of Patent 1,- 932,579, granted October 31, 1933, contemplates a central station selling radio service to subscribers of mobile telegraph printers mounted on buses, trucks, passenger cars and police cars. In the latter case particularly, the permanent record of the received message avoids any misunderstanding or loss of message by temporary absence from the car. It also insures a greater secrecy.

In accordance with my invention land communications may also be conducted with ship and aeroplanes between ships, between aeroplanes, and from ships and aeroplanes to land.

The telegraph printer of my invention comprises a plurality of disc-shaped type wheels secured together on a type wheel shaft. Each disc in turn carries a number of individual embossed characters to be printed.

This type wheel construction is directly, selectively operated by what I prefer to call a two-unit code, each unit consisting of a combination of long and short impulses. The long impulses of one unit selectively shift the type wheel shaft to select a type wheel disc and the long impulse of the second unit selectively rotates the type wheel shaft to select a character of the selected type wheel disc.

A distributor directly controlled by each unit counts the impulses for synchronizing and at the proper impulse, switches the oncoming signals in synchronism therewith. to select the type wheel disc and then the character on the disc.

To insure secrecy of the code, I provide means to interchange the position of the characters. The printer is mounted on the vehicle in a manner to prevent serious vibrations, to prevent electrical interaction and therefore injury thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits and apparatus employed in one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the distributor mechanism employed in Figure 1.

Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, are sections taken respectively on line 33, 44, 55 and E6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a form of type wheel disc showing particularly the arrangement of obtaining space between words.

Figure 8 is a developed diagram of a perforated form of type wheel .construction.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary portion of one form of message transmitting tape which may 'be used in my invention.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the printer mounted in an automobile.

Figure 11 is a front plan view of the dash board of the automobile.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the system of communication diagrammatically illustrated therein consists generally of a code transmitting device It), a receiving device II, a. receiver controlled relay l2 for repeating the received code, combinations of impulses to the selecting and recording system, a controlling device l3 responsive to the short and long impulses of the received code and a printing mechanism which is selectively actuated to progressively print upon a movable tape 4 a letter or character corresponding to the transmitted code combination of short and long electrical impulses assigned to represent that character.

More specifically, the transmitting device "I, preferably a radio transmitter adapted to broadcast short and long electrical impulses may be operatedin any desired manner such as manually, photoe'lectrically or mechanically. As illustrated in the drawings,-a perforated tape l5, having therein groups of perforations comprising short slots or holes .5, and long slots L (see Fi ure 9) is fed through a scanning mechanism I6 associated with the. transmitter Ill. The scanning mechanism l6 responds to and translates the and relay I00, provides a by-pass circuit for the current from battery I over contact 23 and brush 20 to ground at |2|. Relay l2, however, upon being energized over this circuit, opens the circuit at its armature II which disengages its back contact.

Thereafter upon receipt of the first signal impulse, the circuit completed extends over conductor 3 as will be explained hereinafter, since relay |2' being slow to release is not deenergizcd during the no-impulse period.

If, therefore, the synchronizing impulse is received while brush 20 is on contact 23', normal operations proceed as will be described.

If, on the other hand, no impulse is received when brush 20 is on contact 23', no operation can occur. For reasons that will appear hereinafter, brush 28 will remain on contact 23. until the synchronizing impulse showing that the transmitter and receiver are in synchronism is received.

The resetting impulse is much longer than even the long impulse of the code to be described in order to energize extra .slow relay l2. As soon as relay I2 is energized, stepping magnet 48 is energized over a circuit to be described in connection with the code signals. Brush 20 is moved from contact 23'. At the end of the synchronizing impulse, magnet 48 is deenergized, stepping the brush a further distance and the apparatus is ready for the first signalling impulse.

In response to the first signal impulse energizing relay l2, an energization circuit is completed from the battery I front contact and armature H0 and conductor H3 through the magnet 48, conductor 4 and relay I to ground at I I5.

Magnet 48 is a stepping magnet controlling the operation of the distributor device I3 which controls the switching of the oncoming impulseto mechanisms, to be described, responsive to the two-unit code and controlling the final printing and restoration of the printer.

This switching is effected by the brush or contact arm 20 which is mounted on, and locked by a key to one'end of a rotatable shaft 2|, the other end of which carries a friction plate 22. Shaft II,

is driven by a motor.40 (Figure 2). through worm 4| mounted on a shaft of the IIlOtOlz-Rlld meshing is the friction disc 44 including plates 22 and '45 As motor 40 rotates, shaft 2| carrying distributor arm 20, tends to rotate with it, but is. norf mally prevented from rotating by'the pawl 4 in engagement with one tooth of the ratc'h'etq46,. secured to the shaft 2|. One end of the pawl" consists of an armature controlled by a magnet 48 to which the armature is attracted when that magnet is energized. Normally, however, the

pawl 41 is held against its backstop as shown in Figure 1 by a spring 49, one-end of which is secured to the pawl 41 and the. other to the frame .work.

When magnet 48 is energized in the manner de- ,scribed above, it attracts pawl 41 which rocks about its pivot withdrawing the lower tooth of pawl 41 from the ratchet wheel '46 and moving its upper tooth in the pathof the ratchet wheelpermitting a rotation of the shaft with armiil through an angle equal to one-half the pitch'o f the teeth of ratchet wheel 46. .I

The distributor arm 20 is moved successively.

into engagement with a series of contacts 24 to '36 consisting of contacting points mounted on'an insulating ring l3. Each of the contacts 24 to 28 is common to a character on each disc wheel, five contacts being shown here for purposes of illustration of a printer in which there are five characters on each disc wheel to be described. Each of the contacts 29 to 34 is individual to a type wheel disc of a printer consisting of a plurality of such discs. Contact 35 controls a printing operation and contact 36 a restoring operation all of which will be described in more detail hereinafter. The pitch of the teeth of ratchet 4B is equal to the angular displacement between successive contacts, so that when magnet 48 is energized to permit the escapement mechanism 46 and 41 to operate, the distributor arm 20 is rotated either from a contact to a point intermediate the contact and a successive contact or from an intermediate point to a succeeding contact. With brush 20 therefore in the normal position shown, the receipt of the first code impulse energizing relay I2 which in turn energizes the escapement magnet 48 will permit rotation of brush 20 in the direction of the arrow shown to the first contact 24. It will be recalled that the escapement magnet 48 was energized in a series circuit with relay I00.

Relay I is a slow-to-energize relay constructed so that it will not respond to the short impulse of the code but is only responsive to the long impulse. If, however, the first impulse received is a long impulse, relay I00 will energize after an interval of time and an energizing circuit will thereupon be completed from ground at I2I over distributor brush 20, contact 24, conductors I 20 and I I 9, through the selector relay I9, conductors H8 and 1, front contact IOI and armature I02, conductors I I6 and I I2 and through battery I I I to ground. The effect of the energization of relay I9 will be described hereinafter.

Upon the completion of the first code impulse, relay I2 is deenergized, opening the energizing series circuit for the magnet 48 and relay I00. Upon the deenergization of relay 48, pawl 41 is restored to the position shown permitting rotation of shaft 2| for a distance equal to half the pitch of the ratchet 48. Brush 20 rotates from contact 24 to a point intermediate contacts 24 and 25. Selecting relay I9 is deenergized and the apparatus is back in normal condition in preparation for the next impulse.

The same cycle of operations is now repeated, brush 20 moving into engagement with contacts 25 and 28 successively in response to each impulse received and in turn controlling the selective energization of relay I9 in accordance with whether the received impulse is long or short.

The first unit selection is completed when the brush 20 leaves contact 28 and the second unit selection begins when the brush engages contact 29. If a long impulse is received at this time, relay I00 is energized and a circuit is completed from ground at I2I, brush 20, contact 29, conductor I32 and I3I through the magnet I0, conductor I30 and thereafter over conductor III to battery III and ground as described hereinbefore.

Relay I0 is a second selection relay which is energized in response to long impulses in the second unit of the code for selecting the particular type wheel disc. Relay I9 having previously selected a particular column of characters, a final selection is thus completed as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The selection having been completed, the printer is now in position for operation and on receipt of the next impulse which is the printing impulse, brush 20 engages contact 35 to extend the energizing circuit from ground at I2I over conductor I84 to the printing magnet 90 and conductor I33 to battery III and ground. Upon the energization of the printing magnet, the printing operation of the selected character is completed. Brush 20 is now moved to contact 38 to complete. an energizing circuit over conductor I81 for the restoring magnets 86 and I2 in series over conductors I35 and I31. Magnets 88 and" upon energization restore the apparatus to normal. Following the restoration of the apparatus, brush 20 moves to its normal position shown in synchronizing contact 23'.

It will be noted that contact 23 is spaced one-half a tooth pitch from contact 36 random and one-half a tooth pitch from contact 24. At the end of the last signal, relay I2 is deenergized to move brush 20 to contact 23.

Upon receipt of the synchronizing impulse, relay I2 is energized to energize relay I2 if the impulse is long enough. Magnet 48 is energized as soon as relay I2 is energized to move brush 28 off of contact 23'. Thereupon magnet 48 is deenergized at the end of the synchronizing impulse and brush 20 moves to one-half a pitch distance from contact 24 in preparation for the first signalling impulse.

If during the signalling period an impulse is lost and distributor brush 20 so falls out of synchronism with the transmitter, brush 20 will continue to be stepped until it reaches synchronizing contact 23. It will then be held at this position because of the deenergized condition of relay I2 providing a bypass around magnet 48 until a synchronizing impulse energizes the relay I2. This insures distributor brush 28 always starting out in synchronism.

The printer will now be described in more detail. The printing mechanism consists of a vertical shaft 50 mounted in a frame so as to allow for both rotary and axial reciprocation. Upon the upper end of the shaft are removably keyed a series of seven type discs I to I inclusive. These type discs have six faces each upon each of which characters such as theletters of the alphabet, marks of punctuation, numerals, etc.,'

are embossed. An inking roller I is in frictional engagement with the discs so that during the setting of the discs the characters will pick up the proper amount of ink to bring the characters upon the tape I4. It is understood that other methods of inking or printing may be employed, such as an inked ribbon placed between the type and the tape as in the typewriter.

The lower end of the shaft 50 is supplied with an antifriction ball 52 which rests upon the periphery of a disc selector cam 53 (Figure 5). The cam 53 is loosely mounted but held against longitudinal movement, midway upon a horizontally disposed shaft 54. One end of this shaft 54 (left in Figure l) is journalled in a frame member and beyond which it carries a plate 55 which is in frictional engagement with a continuously running friction disc 58.

The disc 56 is continuously driven by a motor 51 through the worm 58 and worm wheel 59.

.A torsion spring 60 encircling the shaft 54 and having one end secured in the hub of the cam 53 and the other end in the frame serves to urge the cam to its normal positionof rest where the vertical shaft 50 is in its lowest position, as shown in Figure 5. This position of rest is determined by a stop pin 6| carried by the cam coming in contact with a stop lug 62 carried by a frame member.

Slidably keyed upon the shaft 54 adjacent the cam 66 is a clutch member 65 cooperating through said teeth with a clutch member 66 formed on the side of the cam facing member 65. The number of teeth in the clutch members corresponds to the number of type discs on the vertical shaft 56. This is seven in the form of mechanism illustrated. The clutch member 65 is normally held in engagement with the member 66 on the cam by a compression spring 61.

The rotation of cam 53 is accomplished in a similar manner to the rotation of the arm 26 of the control mechanism. Shaft 54 is allowed to rotate with friction discs 56 only when the proper impulses operate an escapement :mechanism. To effect this movement, there is formed upon the periphery of the clutch member 65, a seven tooth ratchet wheel 68 (Figure 6). In functional association therewith is an escapement mechanism consisting of a pawl 68 and electromagnet 16. Upon the actuation of the magnet 16, the pawl 69 allows the shaft 54 to rotate a distance of one ratchet tooth and thus, through clutch 65, 66 rotate the cam 53 a suflicient amount to elevate the type discs a distance equal to one of their thicknesses.

After the printing operation has taken place (to be described hereinafter) the resetting of the cam 53 is accomplished by disengaging the clutch 65, 66, whereby the spring 66, which was being wound up during the setting of the vertical shaft 56, serves to immediately return the cam to its original position. The means for disengaging the clutch 65, 66 consist of a forked lever I I, pivoted upon the frame and co-acting with the grooved hub of clutch member 65, and electromagnet 12 for actuating lever H.

In addition to elevating the group of type discs the proper amount, as described above, the discs 6 are rotated so that the proper character on the disc opposite the printing mechanism is brought into position to be printed. Of course if the character to be printed is on the face already in position, no rotation is necessary. The mechanism whereby the disc shaft 56 is rotated comprises a ratchet wheel 15, which is slidably keyed upon the shaft 56 but held in longitudinal position by surrounding frame members, and a pull finger 16 (Figure 4) adapted to rotate the ratchet 15 a sixth of a revolution at each pull. Finger 16 is carried upon an extension 11 of the movable core; 18 forming a part of the solenoid 19. Thus, upon the solenoid being energized by a message impulse, the core extension I1 and finger l6 serve to rotate the shaft 56 one sixth of a revolution.

In order to maintain the shaft 56 and type discs I to I in accurate angular position after each movement, a pivoted spring detent 86 is normally held in engagement with the back face of a tooth on the ratchet 15 in such a manner as to prevent backward movement of the ratchet but allowing forward movement of same.

As soon as the printing has taken place, it is necessary that the type discs be returned to both their original or normal angular and vertical positions in readiness for the next cycle. To

perform this operation there is provided a combined torsion and compression spring 8| which 'encircles an upwardly extending portion 82 of as the type disc shaft is elevated and rotated. the spring 82 is both wound up and compressed. Resetting of the shaft 56 vertically downward by means of spring 8| takes place as the clutch 65, 66 is disengaged and cam 63, under influence of spring 66, returns to its low position.

The rotational resetting of the shaft 56 is accomplished by withdrawing the spring detent 66 from contact with ratchet 15 whereby the spring 82 unwinds and returns shaft 56 to its original position as determined by a stop finger 84, which is slidably keyed on shaft 56, striking a lug 85 carried on a frame member. Spring detent 86 is withdrawn from its contact with ratchet I5 by means of electromagnet 86 acting upon an armature 81 formed as the rear portion of the detent.

It is sometimes desirable in communication and particularly radio communication, to have a message in code form. Heretofore this has been accomplished in the mechanism by sending the original message in code form so that the printed representation is a copy of the transmitted message which was in code. According to my invention, I send the message in its decoded form but receive and print it from type discs which have been displaced from their original positions. In the mechanism as illustrated, the rearranging ofthe type discs is accomplished merely by disconnecting shaft extension 82 from shaft 56, to which it is removably attached by a squared socket formed in collar 83, and slipping the type discs off the shaft and replacing them in any desired order. Thus in the printing of the message, instead of printing the character represented by the transmitted impulses, another character is printed which, in the code form, represents the original character.

After a code combination of message impulses representing a particular character have been translated into a corresponding set-up of the type discs, it is necessary to record this set-up on a tape and move the tape so that the next recording may take place. This is accomplished by a hammer and tape feed mechanism placed adjacent the type discs and operated by an electro-magnet 96. The energizing of magnet 96 thus forces hammer 9| to strike tape l4 thus printing the set-up character thereupon. Associated with the hammer. 9| and operated by the movement of same is a tape feed mechanism comprising a tape feed wheel 92' (Figure 3) mounted upon a shaft 98, a ratchet wheel 94 for rotating shaft, and a feed pawl 85 mounted upon the end of a pivoted feed lever 86 the opposite end of which is in contact with the rear face of the hammer 9|. A spring 91 serves to cause feed lever 86 to follow the movements of the hammer 9| It willthus be seen that as the hammer moves forward to perform the printing operation the lever 96 rocks upon its pivot and draws the pawl 95 over a predetermined number of teeth of ratchet 84 to feed the tape. When the hammer 9| is returned to its original position by means of a spring 88 attached to the belt-crank 92, thefeed lever 6|; is rocked in the opposite direction and causesthe tape I l to be fed forward a distance suilicient to permit printing of the next character.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown a diagram of one system of type disc markings and disc arrangement wherein the horizontal rows I to I inclusive represent the several type discs and the vertical rows 1 to f inclusive represent the aligned faces of the type discs. As through the scanning device I5 of the transmitter shown in Figure 1, the normal setting of the mechanism has disc I and the character M in the printing position. This character M thus may be printed without further setting of the machine, but any other character requires the various settings previously described. A space between words is produced in the same manner as a printed character but no printing takes place because the disc face corresponding to the space impulses is out way (see Figure 7) The operation of the system of short and long electrical impulses required to run the mechanism through a cycle consisting of radial type disc set-up, vertical set-up, printing, tape feed and return of parts to original positions should now be apparent. Fourteen impulses are required to rotate the control arm 20 through one revolution. The first five impulses serve to align radially the proper disc face with the printing mechanism. This is accomplished by successive contacts of arm 20 with contact points 24 to 28 inclusive and the action of the slow-to-energize relay I00. The latter is connected in series with the arm escapement magnet 48 and operates only in re sponse to the long impulses. The next six impulses control the vertical alignment of the type discs through the action of arm 20, contact points 29 to 34 inclusive, cam escapement magnet I and slow-to-energize relay I 00. The twelfth impulse operates the printing magnet 90 to print the set-up character and then move the tape to the next position. The thirteenth and fourteenth impulses are utilized for connecting the arm 20 with contact plate 35 to energize type disc restoring the magnets I2 and 86. Two impulses are used for the last operation to insure an elapse of time suificient for the restoring operation although if desired only one impulse may obviously be used.

The short and long impulses are used, in conjunction with the slow-toenergize relay I00, to properly align the type discs in the following manner: The short impulses do not operate the slowto-energize relay I00 and hence cause no movement of the shaft 59; the long impulses energize the slow-to-energize relay I00 sufficient to close its contact IUI and armature I02 and thus in turn energize either solenoid I9 or cam release magnet 10. Thus, in the series of fourteen impulses representing, for example, the character C, the first five would consist of four long and one short impulses, which would operate solenoid I9 four times and rotate type-discs from column 0, Figure 8, to colunms d, e, f and a successively and thereby align the face of disc 3 carrying the character C, with the printing mechanism. Of the next six impulses, the first two wouldbe long and the following four, short. This would cause magnet I0 to allow cam 53 to move twice and elevate shaft 50 to bring the type disc 3 and character C thereon opposite the printing mechanism. The succeeding three impulses serve to print the character C and return the parts to original position as previously described.

Referring to Figure 9, there is shown one form of tapev I5 for transmitting messages to be received on the herein-disclosed mechanism, wherein the long synchronism and fourteen short and long perforations representing the character C are distributed as follows (reading from right to left): a long synchronizing slot, four long slots, one short, two long, four short, three short. These slots may be arranged consecutively on the tape in any desired manner. When the tape is fed I0 there is broadcast a similar group of electrical impulses which may be picked up in the manner already described.

Figures and 11 show one preferred manner or mounting the printer on the radio set in a vehicle for mobile use.

As shown, the radio receiving circuit is mounted in a metal container I44 for protecting it from outside disturbances, particularly such as are found in a moving vehicle.

Container I44 is mounted through a spring cushioning device I45 on the brackets I46 secured to the lower edge of the dash board I40.

Mounted just above the radio set is a frame construction I53 having spring cushioning supports I54. Electrical conductors I5I and I52 extend from the radio set to the relay I2, mounted in frame I53 which also carries the remaining parts of the printing mechanism which is shown with portions cut away.

As the characters are printed on the tape I4, the tape is fed inwardly in the arrangement shown in Figure 10 so that the characters sweep from right to left along the lens I56 mounted by means of the supports I5I on the bracket I58. The simple amplifying arrangement is provided by lens I56 for projecting the characters through a slot at I42 caught in the dash board and through which the characters are made visible to the driver sitting in the car opposite the dash board. The arrangement is such that the character is projected and made visible instantaneously so that the driver is apprised of the message as soon as it has been received.

After the tape has been fed past the tape I42, it falls into the basket I6I mounted on basket I 62. The driver may at any time read portions of the message which have dropped into the basket by swinging the closure I43 on its pivots to a horizontal position and reaching into the basket. The basket as shown is located on one side of the printer where it is easily accessible.

In order to prevent interaction between the telegraph printer and the radio receiver amplifier, the radio receiver is, as has already been described hereinbefore, suitably shielded by being enclosed in a metallic casing. Similarly the printer is also mounted in a metallic casing so as to prevent any radiation due to speaking at the contacts and both the telegraph distributor and the motor drive from affecting the radio receiver. As shown, condensers I'II, I72, I13, I14 and I15 are connected across the distributor contacts to provide a bypass for any arcing that may take place at the distribution contacts.

It will be understood that I have disclosed only one form of printing and that any other supporting means may be used for my mobile printer. Furthermore, although I have shown the printer mounted in an automobile, it will be obvious that it may be mounted in any other movable object such as aeroplanes, ships and so forth.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that my printer may take other forms than that herein shown, which is merely described here in detail for purposes of illustrating the principle of my invention, and I do not intend to be limited thereby except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a radio telegraph printer; a transmitter; a receiver; a single transmitting channel connecting said transmitter and receiver; means at said transmitter for transmitting by radiant energy over said single channel code combinations of radio frequency impulse conditions; means at said receiver for translating said radio frequency impulse conditions into direct current impulse conditions; a printer comprising a plurality of type wheels, each type wheel consisting of a plurality of individually removable type characters, said type characters being interchangeable on said type wheels for rendering said printer responsive to secret codes; selector mechanism responsive to said direct current impulse conditions i'or selectively operating said printer in accordance with the received codes and means for transmitting a synchronizing signal over said channel for maintaining said receiver in synchronism with the received signals.

- 2. In a signalling system, a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; a single radio signalling channel connecting said transmitter and receiver, said receiver including a telegraph type wheel printer comprising a plurality of type wheel discs responsive to received code combinations of impulse conditions transmitted by said transmitter and received by said receiver over said single channel; a pair of electrode magnets responsive to the received code combinations of impulse conditions over said single signalling channel for selecting type characters for printing; switching means for switching predetermined ones of said impulses to one of said magnets and other predetermined impulses to other of said magnets; and means for transmitting synchronizing impulses over said single channel for controlling said switching mechanism operation in timed relation with said received signals.

signals received over said single channel for operating said first means in timed relation with said received signals.

4. In a signalling system, a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; a single radio signalling channel connecting said transmitter and said receiver, said receiver including a telegraph printer comprising a type wheel shaft; a plurality of discs secured thereto; means comprising solely a pair of magnets responsive to received code combinations of impulse conditions over said single channel for selectively controlling the ratation of said type wheel shaft; and moving it along its axis to select a type wheel and a character on the selected type wheel for printing; switching means fordriving predetermined ones of said impulses to one of said pair of magnets and the other of said impulses to the other of said magnets; and means for synchronizing said switching means and received impulses by impulses received over said single channel.

5. The method of operating a radio telegraph system over a single radio channel including a transmitter and a printer which comprises radiating code combinations of a uniform number .of long and short impulse conditions over the single channel, selectively operating a printer in accordance therewith, and timing the operations aooassa V by counting the number of impulses in each code combination.

6. In a signalling system, a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; a single radio signalling channel connecting said transmitter and said receiver, said receiver including a telegraph printer comprising a type wheel shaft; a plurality of type discs secured thereto; means comprising a pair of magnets for controlling the rotation 01 said type wheel. shaft and moving it along its axis and selector mechanism responsive to received code combinations of. impulse conditions received over said single channel for selectively controlling said rotating means to select a type wheel and a character on the selected type wheel for printing; a switch for switching predetermined impulses oi the received code combination from one to the other 01' a second pair of magnets; and means for transmitting synchronizing impulses over said single channel.

7. In combination, a movable carrier; a mobile radio printer mounted thereon; a motor drive therefor; cushioning means to render said printer and motor substantially free from vibrations of said carrier; 9. radio receiver for controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; and means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy.

8. In combination, an automobile having a dashboard; a mobile printer mounted on said dashboard; a motor drive therefor; cushioning means to render said printer and motor substantially free from vibrations of said automobile; a radio receiver screened from and controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of" a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; and means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy.

9. In combination with a signalling channel, a movable vehicle, having a dashboard; a mobile printer, comprising a plurality of typewheels responsive to received code combinations of groups of impulse conditions, all of the same polarity and received over said signalling channel; means for directly operating said printer first to select a typewheel in accordance with one group of code combinations and then a character on the typewheel in accordance with another group of code combinations; means for interchanging the typewheels for maintaining secrecy; spring mounting for securing said printer to the dashboard; a radio receiver screened from and controlling said printer'in accordance with received signals; and means for transmitting synchronizing signals for maintaining said receiver in synchronism with said received signals.

10. In combination, a movable vehicle having a dashboard; a mobile printer mounted onv said dashboard; cushioning means to render said printer substantially free from vibrations of said vehicle; a radio receiver screened from andcontrolling said printer in accordance'with'received code combinations oi a plurality of. groups oi impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the-received code signals; means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy; and a visual magnifier for magnifying and rendering visible the printed characters to render them readily visible in said vehicle.

11. In combination, a movable vehicle having a dashboard; cushioning means to render said printer substantially free from vibrations of said automobile; a mobile printer mounted on said dashboard; a radio receiver screened from and controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy; and a slot in said dashboard and a visual magnifier for amplifying the printed characters to display them through said slot.

12. In combination, a movable carrier; a mobile radio printer mounted thereon operable by direct current impulse conditions; a motor drive therefor; cushioning means to render said printer and motor substantially free from vibrations of said carrier; a radio receiver generating direct current impulse conditions for controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy; and high frequency bypass means for preventing high frequency signals from operating said printer.

13. In combination, an automobile having a printer support; a. mobile printer having a plurality of typewheels mounted on said support; a motor drive therefor; cushioning means to render said printer and motor substantially free from vibrations of said automobile; a radio receiver screened from and controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; and means for interchanging type wheels on the printer to insure secrecy.

14. In combination with a signalling channel, a movable vehicle having a printer support; a mobile printer comprising a plurality of typewheels responsive to received code combinations of groups of direct current impulse conditions, all of the same polarity and received over said signalling channel; means for directly operating said printer first to select a typewheel in accordance with one group of code combinations and then a character on the typewheel in accordance with another group of code combinations; means for interchanging the typewheels for maintaining secrecy; spring mounting for securing said printer to the vehicle; a radio receiver screened from and controlling'said printer in accordance with received signals translated into direct current'irnpulse conditions; means for transmitting synchronizing signals for maintaining said receiver in synchronism with said received signals; and means for preventing high frequency signals from affecting any operation of said printer.

15. In combination, a movable vehicle having a printer support; a mobile printer mounted on said printer support; cushioning means to render said printer substantially free from vibrations of said vehicle; a radio receiver screened from and controlling said printer in accordance with received code combinations of a plurality of groups of impulse conditions over a single carrier channel; means whereby the received signals maintain the receiver in synchronism with the received code signals; means for interchanging type characters on the printer to insure secrecy; and a visual magnifier for magnifying and rendering visible the printer characters to render them readily visible in said vehicle.

16. In a signalling system, aradio transmitter; a radio receiver; a single radio signalling channel connecting said transmitter and receiver; a printer connected to the output of said receiver, said radio receiver being screened from said printer; said printer including a telegraph typewheel printer comprising a plurality of typewheel discs responsive to received code combinations of impulse conditions transmitted by said transmitter and received over said single signalling channel; said receiver including a pair of electro-magnets responsive to the received code combinations of impulse conditions over said single signalling channel for selecting type characters for printing; switching means for switching predetermined ones of said impulses to oneof said magnets and other predetermined impulses to the other of said magnets; and means for transmitting synchronizing impulses over said single signalling channel for controlling said switching mechanism operation in timed relation with said received signals.

17. In a signalling system, a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; a single radio signalling channel connecting said transmitter and receiver; a printer connected to the output of said receiver, said radio receiver being screened from said printer; said printer including a telegraph typewheel printer comprising a plurality'of typewheel discs responsive to received code combinations of impulse conditions transmitted by said transmitter and received over said single signalling channel; said receiver including a pair of electromagnets responsive to the received code combinations of impulse conditions over said single signalling channel for selecting type characters for printing; switching means for switching predetermined ones of said impulses to one of said magnets and other predetermined impulses to the other of said magnets; means for transmitting synchronizing impulses over said single signalling channel for controlling said switching mechanism operation in timed relation with said received signals; and means for preventing high frequency signals from affecting said printer magnets.

WILLIAM G. H. FINCH. 

